Life with two...

Watching my girls together sometimes nearly brings a tear to my eye...granted, sometimes it's because I'm worn out from reminding Ava SO many times to love on her sister more gently. However, so often it's because I can see how much they love one another already! Elizabeth has only been with us six weeks now and I can't imagine how life seemed complete without her. I certainly think Ava would agree...Elizabeth is usually on a pretty good "schedule" during the night, but occasionally gives Adam and I a good reminder that she's only a few weeks old. She's usually VERY awake between 8-11 p.m., then goes to sleep and only wakes up twice for an hour each to eat. Ava wakes pretty early in the morning, but my sweet husband kindly steers her clear of our room while he gets some work done and allows Elizabeth and me to sleep a bit longer. Adam snapped this picture early one morning because he thought it was so funny that Elizabeth and I were in exactly the same sleeping position.
We followed all the "rules" and didn't offer Ava a bottle until she was 5 weeks old...the girl NEVER took the bottle!! This time, with Elizabeth, we started that bottle in the nursery at the hospital and so far it's working out wonderfully. Adam gives her a bottle of breastmilk about 2-3 times a week just to keep her in practice. Ava loves helping Daddy with the bottle...
Well, Ava loves to help with anything having to do with Elizabeth, in general! She follows me around when I'm holding her and climbs up to wherever I put her down to give her kisses and hold her hand and rub her tummy. Ava even pulls her rocking horse up to the changing table to climb up on to help entertain Elizabeth while I change her diaper. She's my big helper and a very loving big sister. She'll often tell me that Elizabeth is her "little daughter".
My parents came to visit this past weekend to help with the girls while Adam was out of town. Dad and Elizabeth fell asleep and took a little nap on the couch...so sweet.